While thousands of British Columbians turned off their lights and devices during Earth Hour Saturday night, the home of the City of Vancouver’s engineering department was brightly lit up with artificial light.
Local politics blog City Hall Watch Van pointed out that most of the lights were on last night at the city’s engineering department offices in the Crossroads building at Broadway and Cambie.
British Columbians managed to reduce the province’s electricity load by a full percentage point during Earth Hour, the equivalent of turning off 1.4 million lights.
City of Vancouver spokesperson Patricia MacNeil issued the following statement to Global News:
“That building is not operated by the Cities facilities department. Although engineering staff occupy space there, it is overseen by another company. All CoV staff received details about Earth hour (i.e. turning off equipment, unplugging other items) on Friday and encouraging Earth Hour observance at home on Saturday. Staff were in City Hall to ensure lights (other than emergency ones on the south side) were turned off).”
Ironically, city councillor Andrea Reimer attended the Earth Hour City Challenge conference in Malmo, Sweden last year at a cost of $3356.46.
Vancouver was named the “Global Earth Hour Capital” last year for “excellence and leadership in sustainable urban development.” The city also received the people’s choice award for the most votes.
Vancouver has the goal of becoming the greenest city in the world by 2020.
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